Chapter 61.1

Wu Yuanming never expected that someone would dare to hit his son like this. 

No matter how worthless his son might be, he was still Wu Yuanming’s son. 

Moreover, Wu Yuanming was the director of the Hongqi Farm. 

Even if someone didn’t respect him, they should at least consider the position he held.

In his urgency, Wu Yuanming nearly slipped and fell. Fortunately, Liu Hechang acted quickly and reached out to steady him.  

Otherwise, if Wu Yuanming had fallen, it would have surely resulted in something serious.

“Stop! Stop this at once! Are you all blind? You’re just standing around watching someone commit violence at the entrance of our farm without intervening! Do you have no regard for the law anymore?” scolded Liu Hechang, who was supporting Wu Yuanming, in a self-important tone.  

He turned his anger toward the onlookers.

The onlookers: …Damn, they were being blamed for no reason now? Most of them wished they could step forward themselves and help the person hitting the target!  

“I dare anyone to stop me today!” Qin Qingman shouted, glaring fiercely at the crowd, leaning on her stick after striking Wu Weimin across the face again. “Anyone who protects a criminal committing violence and endangering lives in public is an accomplice. I’ll report this to the Public Security Bureau and have them arrested!”  

This declaration from Qin Qingman instantly silenced a few people in the crowd who had considered currying favor with the wrong side.

“I’m from Kaoshan Village,” Qin Qingman announced loudly. “This is my first time visiting relatives at the Hongqi Farm. I have no grudges against this person, and we’ve never met before. I don’t even know him, yet he dared to push someone from behind. Everyone knows how hard the ground is in winter—pushing someone like that is a clear attempt to cause serious harm or even death. This matter isn’t over.”

Qin Qingman didn’t mention Wei Ling’s military status to back herself up. After all, Wei Ling was a soldier, and while such an identity could be advantageous, mishandling it could also bring trouble. Instead, she emphasized her own background.

In this local area, being a fellow native carried more weight.

“Isn’t this Old Qin Family’s Qingman girl?” someone in the crowd suddenly recognized her.

“And the person pushed to the ground seems to be Aunt Guiying from Kaoshan Village.”

“Yes, that’s Aunt Guiying. Aunt Guiying often visits our farm. I know her—I’ve even eaten some of the mountain goods she brought.”

“Oh my God, Aunt Guiying is hurt. Is it serious?”

Some people in the crowd had already recognized Aunt Guiying but hadn’t dared to speak up earlier. Now, seeing that Qin Qingman was determined to make a scene and considering their trust in Zheng Anguo, the Party Secretary of Kaoshan Village, they finally began to voice their concerns.  

“That injured child must be Chuchu, right? Oh my God, Chuchu is only five years old! How ruthless must someone be to harm both an elderly woman and a child this young? This is outrageous! Report it to the Public Security Bureau, let them handle this!” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

When people are oppressed for too long, they naturally resist. The crowd began using the incident to stir things up. The bigger the commotion, the better the chance for justice to be served. Only with enough attention could those who had been wronged cry out for fairness.

The first to speak up in support of Qin Qingman were the locals, most from Hongqi Town itself, with some from the nearby mountain villages also voicing their support.

Some of the *Educated Youths* were also in the crowd, watching the spectacle unfold.  

The *Educated Youths* felt conflicted as they watched the situation escalate. Among them, some were doing relatively well, but others had suffered due to their backgrounds and lived rather difficult lives. Those hardships made them long for justice and fairness.

But as Wu Yuanming and Liu Hechang stormed angrily onto the scene, the *Educated Youths* ultimately stayed silent.  

Their circumstances were complicated—some had privileged backgrounds, while others came from disadvantaged families. Living away from home, they had no support system to fall back on.  

Without support, they couldn’t afford to stir up trouble.  

Not only were their futures in the hands of others, but even something as simple as taking a day off or traveling required permission from local authorities. Without an official approval slip, they couldn’t even leave Hongqi Town.  

Helpless, the *Educated Youths* chose compromise.

Chuchu, thankfully, had no injuries to his arms or legs. After someone recognized him, the little boy walked up to Qin Qingman and tightly hugged her leg. His *Big Sister’s* leg was warm—it was his source of security.

The child’s gaze swept across the crowd. Most of the faces were unfamiliar, but among them, he spotted some familiar ones.

It was his uncle’s family.

Perhaps the commotion had been too loud earlier, as Wan Mingxi’s family had been among the first to come out and watch. Having not seen Qin Qingman or Chuchu for over a year, the family hadn’t recognized them right away.

Because they didn’t recognize them, they hadn’t avoided them in time.  

But now, hearing someone call out Qin Qingman and Chuchu’s names, the family was shocked. They immediately wanted to slip away, but Wu Yuanming’s sharp eyes caught them.

When Wu Yuanming’s gaze landed on Wan Liang, his secretary, Wan Liang also saw Wu Yuanming.  

Their eyes met, and at that moment, Wan Liang realized that even if he wanted to run, there was no way to escape.  

When Qin Qingman’s background was revealed, Liu Hechang, who had been supporting Wu Yuanming, was so startled that he immediately let go of Wu Yuanming’s arm. He was genuinely terrified of Wei Ling, who had dealt with him before, and he didn’t dare to provoke trouble.  

Others might not know about Qin Qingman’s powerful backer, but Liu Hechang was fully aware.  

Frightened and hesitant, he released his hold on Wu Yuanming. However, Liu Hechang was no fool—if he left without a plausible excuse, and Wu Yuanming somehow came out unscathed, there would be hell to pay later. Wu Yuanming would surely make things difficult for him.

Thinking quickly, Liu Hechang’s eyes darted around. The moment he let go of Wu Yuanming, he pretended to lose his footing.  

And just like that, he fell.  

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like Liu Hechang had sensed the danger and let go of Wu Yuanming in time, so he wouldn’t be dragged down with him.  

“Ahhhh—!”  

A pitiful scream rang out as Liu Hechang hit the ground.  

His fall caused Wu Yuanming to stumble as well, his balance thrown off. Wan Liang, Wu Yuanming’s secretary and a habitual sycophant, instinctively reacted faster than his brain. Seeing Wu Yuanming about to fall, he darted forward to steady him.  

Just in time, Wan Liang grabbed Wu Yuanming and prevented him from falling.  

With Wan Liang’s help, Wu Yuanming managed to steady himself on the slippery ground. At that moment, all of his attention was focused on Wu Weimin, who lay battered and groaning on the ground, utterly miserable. He didn’t spare a single glance at Liu Hechang, who had supposedly fallen.

Liu Hechang, the chairman of the farm’s workers’ union, held a position that many relied on for their livelihoods.  

When some people in the crowd saw him fall, they hurried forward to help him up.  

However, Liu Hechang’s fall hadn’t been serious at all. It was nothing more than a calculated move on his part. He had deliberately chosen a spot where the snow was soft, so when he fell, he wasn’t hurt in the slightest.  

But whether he was injured or not, Liu Hechang had no intention of staying around to face Qin Qingman.  

Grabbing the arm of the person who helped him up, he signaled them to quickly escort him away from the scene.  

He had a sinking feeling that if he got involved in today’s mess, it wouldn’t just be a case of being unable to clean it up—he might lose his job at the farm altogether. After all, how could local officials like him dare to go against the military? Especially when they were clearly in the wrong.  

Liu Hechang was painfully aware of just how dirty their records were.  

If no one dug deeper, they might scrape by. But if an investigation were launched, there would be no escaping. Everything would be laid bare—whether it was mud or filth, it would all be revealed. If things got serious, it wouldn’t just be a matter of losing their jobs. Prison time was a certainty, and there was even the possibility of facing execution.  

As this realization hit him, cold sweat broke out on Liu Hechang’s forehead.  

He hurriedly whispered to the person helping him, urging them to get him out of there as quickly as possible.  

The commotion involving Qin Qingman was not something he dared to watch or get involved in.  

As for Wu Yuanming, he wasn’t much cleaner than anyone else. With that troublemaking son of his, who seemed to specialize in stirring up problems, his family’s weaknesses were glaringly obvious. Today, there was a real chance that both father and son would suffer a humiliating defeat.

Liu Hechang had thought everything through. His retreat was decisive and swift.  

Before the crowd could react, he used the excuse of being injured to quietly slip away. In no time, he had vanished without a trace.  

Liu Hechang recognized Qin Qingman, and naturally, Qin Qingman and Chuchu recognized him as well. Seeing that he chose not to intervene, Qin Qingman decided to act as if she hadn’t seen him either.  

While fleeing, Liu Hechang bumped into Xiao Yan, who had been sent to find Bao Shengli. He quickly asked if Bao Shengli had been located.  

“Comrade Liu Hechang, I haven’t found him yet. I heard he’s repairing a machine, so I’m heading over there to check,” Xiao Yan said, clearly flustered and sweating. Being unable to complete the task assigned by a superior was an obvious mark of incompetence in his mind.

“No rush, Xiao Yan. Help me get to the medical station first. My back needs checking,” Liu Hechang replied smoothly, seizing the opportunity to send the others supporting him away while keeping Xiao Yan by his side.  

If Xiao Yan hadn’t yet delivered the message, then as far as Liu Hechang was concerned, the issue was still unresolved. And if it wasn’t resolved, he could avoid involvement altogether.  

Xiao Yan had no idea the situation had shifted. Seeing that Liu Hechang wanted his company to the medical station, he obediently complied. After all, he was just a staff member; carrying out orders from his superiors was his primary responsibility.  

By diverting Xiao Yan, Liu Hechang avoided involving Bao Shengli altogether. That way, Bao Shengli, for the sake of his mother-in-law, would have no choice but to step in on his own. Otherwise, he’d appear completely spineless. As for how the chaos would end and how Wu Yuanming might save face, that was no longer Liu Hechang’s concern.  

Wu Yuanming, meanwhile, never imagined that he’d been abandoned by Liu Hechang.  

Watching Liu Hechang being helped away after his “injury,” Wu Yuanming didn’t even consider asking him to stay.  

He had unwavering confidence in his own abilities. As the director of a farm managing thousands of people, he believed that if he raised his arm and shouted, countless supporters would respond.  

“What kind of person are you, creating trouble on our Hongqi Farm? Someone, come and detain her!” Wu Yuanming bellowed with all the authority of his position.  

Had Qin Qingman not revealed her identity, there might have been people who listened to Wu Yuanming.  

But now that her background was known, and many recognized her as someone from Kaoshan Village, no one dared openly assist Wu Yuanming.  

When his words fell on the crowd, there wasn’t a single person willing to step forward. Instead, the crowd hesitated, standing silently and observing.  

The front gate of Hongqi Farm was packed with onlookers, yet an eerie silence filled the air.  

A heavy awkwardness began to spread.  

Wu Yuanming, who had assumed his call would inspire immediate action, was instead met with indifference. No one paid him any heed.  

Wu Yuanming erupted in fury.  

“How dare you! Such a grand display of authority!” Qin Qingman sneered, her tone filled with contempt. “You’re merely the director of a farm tasked with overseeing production, yet you think you can overstep your jurisdiction and act like the police? Did you eat a leopard’s gallbladder, or did the heavens lend you courage?”  

Qin Qingman, having come from the future, was well-versed in legal frameworks. She had committed the laws of her era to memory, and while there were some differences between the current laws and those of her time, the division of authority had been clearly established since the founding of the nation.  

A farm director claiming the authority to detain someone? Absolutely impossible.  

Her sharp retort didn’t just stun Wu Yuanming; it left everyone present dumbfounded. The crowd’s gaze toward Qin Qingman became a mixture of admiration and awe.  

These were farm workers who lived under Wu Yuanming’s thumb. In front of him, they often felt powerless. Only someone like Qin Qingman, unbound by dependence on Wu Yuanming for her livelihood or clothing, could confront him so directly.  

“This comrade,” Wu Yuanming tried to regain control, “you’ve committed a crime by assaulting someone. What we’re doing is assisting the Public Security Bureau in apprehending you.”  

Wu Yuanming wasn’t a fool. From Qin Qingman’s words, he immediately realized she wasn’t some ignorant village woman. How else could she know the precise scope of a farm director’s authority?  

He quickly shifted his angle, attempting to frame his actions as lawful cooperation.  

Qin Qingman, having vented her anger and worked up a sweat, tossed aside the stick she had been wielding. She picked up Chuchu, cradling him in her arms, and then stared coldly at Wu Yuanming, giving him no face at all. “Yes, hitting someone is illegal.”  

Hearing this, Wu Yuanming’s eyes lit up as he seized upon what he thought was an opportunity. “Exactly! You’ve broken the law. How is it wrong for us to assist the Public Security Bureau in arresting you?” His tone grew smug as he turned to the crowd.  

These people were all workers from his farm, yet they refused to obey his orders. They dared to defy him. Once this matter was resolved, he’d make sure they paid the price. He’d see to it that their workload increased tenfold.  

“You all…” Wu Yuanming began, intending to issue the farmworkers one last ultimatum.  

“Hold it right there,” Qin Qingman interrupted. Her voice was calm, yet her words cut sharply. “Yes, I hit someone, but it was with good reason. In legal terms, it’s called self-defense. It’s both reasonable and lawful. Now tell me, what authority do *you* have to arrest someone? And if you want to talk about hitting people being illegal, shouldn’t we start by arresting the culprit responsible for all this?”  

With that, Qin Qingman decisively kicked Wu Weimin, who was still sprawled on the ground.

Wu Weimin had long been left disoriented after the beating from her, still unable to regain his senses.  

When Qin Qingman kicked him again, he let out a loud “Aiyo!” and collapsed flat on the ground.  

To be honest, he was a coward, a typical spineless man.  

A grown man getting beaten by a woman without being able to fight back—it was understandable to be stunned at first, but to continue taking the beating while only curling up and wailing showed there was something wrong with him.  

At the very least, it suggested that Wu Weimin’s physique wasn’t as manly as his appearance might suggest.  

“Weimin!” Wu Yuanming, watching his son get kicked down by Qin Qingman, rushed over in frustration and shielded him, hating his son for not living up to his expectations.  

Meanwhile, Wan Liang stood frozen on the spot, unsure whether to intervene or stay put, staring dumbfounded at Qin Qingman. Was this really his timid little cousin, who used to avoid even meeting people’s eyes?  

Even Wan Mingshi’s family, who were watching from the crowd, were left speechless. They hadn’t seen Qin Qingman in over a year, and now she was utterly unrecognizable to them. In fact, they suddenly found themselves a little scared of her. An inexplicable feeling crept into their hearts:  

Even Director Wu didn’t seem like a match for Qin Qingman.  

“Dad!” Wu Weimin, cradled in Wu Yuanming’s arms, finally snapped out of his daze. He clung to his father and began wailing uncontrollably. At this point, all the arrogance he used to show when bullying the Educated Youth was nowhere to be seen.  

Not far away, Zhao Tiancheng, along with Wang Ji and Zhou Tao, watched Wu Weimin in utter shock.  

Was this really the Wu Weimin they knew?  

Of all people, they knew Wu Weimin’s ruthlessness best—after all, they spent nearly every day together. But now, seeing him in such a pitiful and incongruous state, the three of them exchanged bewildered glances.  

“Boss, what do we do now?”  

Wang Ji and Zhou Tao both turned to Zhao Tiancheng, looking to him for direction, as they always followed his lead.  

But Zhao Tiancheng was locked in an internal struggle.  

Earlier, he hadn’t gotten a good look at Qin Qingman’s face. Now that he had, he had to admit she was more beautiful than Huang Wanqing, the girl he liked. Yet, no matter how attractive she was, he felt no affection for her.  

Why?  

Because Qin Qingman was terrifying.  

Whether it was the slap she had given Wu Weimin or the way she had beaten him with a stick as though she were punishing a dog, those images were now seared deeply into Zhao Tiancheng’s mind.  

From the bottom of his heart, Zhao Tiancheng was afraid of Qin Qingman.  

This fear had nothing to do with status or rank. It was Qin Qingman’s sheer ferocity that had shaken Zhao Tiancheng to his core. He was afraid—afraid of Qin Qingman.  

“Let’s… let’s just leave,” Zhao Tiancheng finally said.  

He didn’t want to get involved any further.  

Although he didn’t understand where Qin Qingman’s confidence came from to challenge Wu Yuanming, the director of the farm, it was clear that after several exchanges, Wu Yuanming hadn’t been able to suppress her—neither with words nor with his aura. Zhao Tiancheng keenly sensed that Wu Yuanming might be unable to do anything about Qin Qingman.  

If even Wu Weimin’s father couldn’t handle her, Zhao Tiancheng certainly didn’t want to step up.  

“B… Boss…”  

Wang Ji and Zhou Tao stared at Zhao Tiancheng in disbelief. They hadn’t expected him to abandon Wu Weimin.  

Leaving while a brother was in trouble was tantamount to giving up on Wu Weimin entirely.  

“Wu Weimin’s hands are far from clean. If things really blow up, it won’t end well for him. If you two want to stay, go ahead, but I’m leaving,” Zhao Tiancheng said, tightening the cotton coat around himself. He lowered his head and started walking in the direction of Hongqi Town.  

His mind was in complete disarray, and he even forgot about his bicycle. All he could think about was getting as far away from Qin Qingman as possible.  

He had a gut feeling—this girl was absolutely not someone to mess with.  

Watching Zhao Tiancheng’s retreating figure, Wang Ji and Zhou Tao weighed the pros and cons. Between Zhao Tiancheng and Wu Weimin, they realized they could only choose to follow one.  

Recalling Zhao Tiancheng’s background, the two of them ultimately decided to push their bicycles and follow him.  

From the moment they made that choice, the paths they and Wu Weimin would walk became irrevocably different.